Two charged in Lehigh Township incident

Monday

Dec 2, 2013 at 4:21 PM

— Officers responded early Sunday morning to the report of a person breaking in to a vehicle.

— Officers responded early Sunday morning to the report of a person breaking in to a vehicle.
According to reports, officers were called to a home located on Big Chief Trail in Lehigh Township.
When officers arrived on scene, the claim of a car break-in was unfounded. However, the grandfather who lives at the home told police his granddaughter's boyfriend was high and that he requested he leave the house.
The granddaughter, 22-year-old Marisa Damato, was questioned by the officer. She began to "yell obscenities" at the officer and threatened to physically harm the officer.
Damato then locked the officer out of the home and "allegedly threatened to stab her grandfather" if the door was opened.
When the boyfriend of Damato, 20-year-old Justin Maclacklin, was questioned by police he provided a false name. Maclackin then ran from police. He returned to the home after Damato had locked police out of the residence.
Once state and local police gained entry into the home, Damato and Maclacklin were arrested.
Officers had to use a stun gun on Damato.
Damato is charged with four counts of aggravated assault on police, terroristic threats, hindering apprehension or prosecution and unlawful restraint.
Maclacklin is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and providing law enforcement with false identification.
Apartment fire
Authorities have determined the cause of an apartment fire in Carbondale.
On Nov. 29, the Carbondale Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Summit Garden City Apartments on 155 West Gate Drive at around 8 a.m.
The structure was occupied at the time of the incident.
The report states that the structure "sustained heavy smoke, fire and water damage" from the fire. Numerous rescues were performed by the fire department during the evacuation. Around 50 residents have been displaced as a result of the fire.
After investigation into the cause of the fire, it was determined that "the origin of the fire was located in the bedroom of apartment L1." The investigation also found that a six-year-old male "playing with a lighter caused the fire at the above location."
Pennsylvania State Police and Lackawanna County Children and Youth are involved in the investigation.
Crash
Dunmore police responded to a crash on Dec. 1 at around 2 a.m.
The driver, Jean C. Romero, 25, of Olyphant, "lost control due to his speed" and crashed into a concrete barrier on Interstate 81, according to reports.
Romero was taken to the Community Medical Center for his injuries and was tested for blood alcohol content "for suspicion of DUI."
Upon investigation, police learned Romero was a wanted person for a prior DUI arrest.
Assault
State Police in Blooming Grove responded to a residence in Greene Township on Nov. 29.
According to reports, Gregory McCoy, 49, began arguing with his girlfriend "pushed her down and pulled out a knife." McCoy "raised the knife above his head" with the blade down toward his girlfriend.
At that time, her 16-year-old son pulled her to safety and both fled the house.
McCoy was arrested and charged with simple assault and was remanded to Pike County Jail.
Accidents
Police in Blooming Grove report two accidents occurred on Nov. 26 on Interstate 84.
The first incident occurred at 2:40 p.m. when Justin Binkowski, 20, of Goshen, Conn. "began to slide out of control" while negotiating a curve.
Binkowski was unable to maintain control of the car as it slid off the south side of the road. It impacted a guardrail and "traveled approximately 140 feet" before coming to rest facing west.
Roadways were wet with periodic icing at the time of the crash. Binkowski was not hurt and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
A second crash occurred two hours later in the left lane of Interstate 84.
A vehicle driven by Jaclyn Palummo, 21, of Chester, New York, "began to slide out of control on the wet roadway" as it exited the north side of the road and impacted a guardrail.
The vehicle then crossed the roadway, exited the south side of the road "where it impacted a ditch and embankment."
Palummo was not hurt as a result of the crash. The vehicle was towed from the scene.